El Monte National Little League Opening Day, Time to Play Ball!

March 12th, 2016 marked the opening day for the youth of El Monte National Little League. A chance of rain didn’t deter over a hundred little leaguers on more than 20 teams from breaking out their bats and stepping out on the diamond during the opening day of El Monte National Little League in El Monte to start the three-month league season. The league consists of T-Ballers to Majors.

Parents and volunteers were on the field setting up before 8am. This day takes months of planning for the EMNLL Board of Directors. Each team from each division were given a booth to man and operate where they had to sell food, candy, hold games and drinks. This is a way for the league to raise money as well as the individual teams get to keep a portion of the proceeds to support the kids.

There were some special guests at the event El Monte City Council members were present for the opening ceremonies, to give all the kids “High-Fives” as they parade around the field. Mayor Pro Tem Victoria Martinez, Council Member Juventino "J" Gomez, Council Member Norma Macias, Council Member Jerry Velasco and Alexandra Lopez – Director of Parks and Recreations were also in attendance to show their support for the little leaguers. The ceremonies were kicked off with Council Member Norma Macias throwing out the first pitch to Cardinals Lopez.

Marivel Guerra-Peters, Team mom for the Minor Pirates states “The kids were nervous and excited but once the coaches gave them the encouragement they always offer, the kids shined. I was impressed with the way they played and I am can’t wait to see how well they do this year.”

El Monte Little Leagues biggest challenge in youth baseball is keeping a solid tempo where it keeps everybody's attention and baseball is a slower sport by nature. Baseball is losing kids to soccer because soccer is moving all the time. The onus is on the coach to create a tempo that involves everyone and the coaches of EMNLL have kicked up the tempo to where the kids keep coming back year after year.

Opening Day created an upbeat atmosphere where coaches and volunteers did a great job of putting their younger players in the spotlight. Each team starting with T-Ball were called up to march in front of the City Council and families during the annual parade. This year each player will remember the Little League Pledge: "Win or lose, I will always do my best."